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No. 494,807. 'Patented Apr. 4, 1893.

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E. E. FLORA. GOIN OPERATBD PHNGGRAPH.

No. 494,807. Patented Api. 4, 1893.

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Unirse STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELLSVORTI-I E. FLORA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE B. HOIT.

COIN-OPERATED PHONOGRAPH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 494,807, dated April 4, 1893.

Application filed May 5, 1890. Serial No. 350,575. (No model.)

To @ZZ wit-0m, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELLSWORTH E. FLORA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county ot Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvementin CoinOperated Phonographs, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to an improvement upon the phonograph, or analogous instrument, whereby it may be caused to operate by the insertion of a coin representing the price for the privilege of operating itl My object is to aord to the general public, by placing my improvement in localities accessible to them, opportunity, at small cost to each individual using the instrument, to become acquainted with and be entertained by the phonograph, and thereby, also, to provide a source of revenue from the device.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure l is a top view, regarded along the plane ot the line 1 of Fig. 2, of a phonograph provided with my improved attachment for permitting it to be operated by the insertion of a coin. Fig. 2 shows my attachment in elevation as much is represented in the view as will serve 'for the illustration of my improvement, in

cluding, as an important feature the inclination whereby the reproducing stylus may be returned automatically to its initial position after each use ot' the instrument. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the circuits operated by the strumennwithout requiring the latter to be in any way especially adapted to permit the application, thereby not only avoiding difficulty in the application but also mutilation of the phonographic instrument. Accordingly I prefer to provide my improvement in the form finger, m.

of a readily removable and adj nstable attachment, without however intending to be understood as limiting my invention to a construction essentially involving the attachment as a distinct part of tne instrument, inasmuch as I desire to claim a coin-operated pho nograph as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

\ A is a phonograph, and B myimproved attachment for permitting it to be operated by the insertion of a coin.

As the application of my improvement does not, as constructed, involve any alteration of the construction of the phonograph proper, which is well-known, the latter is not shown in all its details in the accompanying drawings, and need not be minutely described herein.

Inside the box O, below the block r, is the motor A (merely indicated in Fig. 3) ot' which q and q are the binding-post terminals; y is the switch D, the governor, o the horizontalpulley-device, geared to the governor by the band a3, and by the band, ai', passing around the guide-pulleys are, to the pulley n on an end ot the screw E, carrying, toward its opposite end, the cylinder E', which supports the waxed-cylinder (not shown) to receive the record from the stylus-device F, extending from the sleeve p on the guide-rod p and carrying the stylus-actuating arm p2, normally engaging with the screw E.

On the extension C2 ot' the base C of the box C, (where it is common to provide a typewriter attachment) I provide a bracket, G, having secured to its vertical portion an electro-magnet, II, provided with the pivotal armature, H, extended from its tree end as a At opposite ends of the cross-head G of the bracket G are sockets, Z, to receive posts, Z', adjustably secured therein and supporting a bar, Z2, having at its opposite end, bearings, Z3, in which to journal a rock-shaft, Zo. On the shaft k, extending between the bearings Z3, is secured, to move with the shaft, a sleeve, la', having a lateral flange, or lip, k2, over which extends, transversely, a rigid tongue, k3, from the hinged stylus-device F. At the end of the shaft Zt, where it projects beyond its bearing Z3 nearest a finger, 112, is secured a finger, s, to extend at an angle from IOO , represented in Fig. 6.

. the shaft, and having the finger-endk m of the armature Il", connected with it eccentrically bya link, 5'; and near the free end of the finger s, is a stud, s2, extending inward at a rightangle from it. In the bearings Z3, behind the shaft 7c, is supported a longitudinally sliding rod, i, having secured to it, preferably, as shown, in a manner to render them adjustable, upward projecting lingers, t" and t2, extending at their upper ends into the pathof the tongue 7e3, and located near the opposite extremities of the play of the tongue by the movements of its supporting stylus-device F. Near the finger i is rigidly secured on the rod t' (also preferably in a manner to permit it to be adjusted lengthwise of the rod) afinger, o, forming the medium for actuating, by lengthwise movement of the rod 'i a switch, I, illustrated in detail in Fig. 4. The switch I comprises a block, t, of insulated or insulating material (as hard rubber) secured to the bar Z2 to extend beyond the inner edge of the same and provided near its free edge with contacts, t and t2, extending through the block and formed at the lower side thereof into binding-posts, t3 (Fig. 5). A metallic tongue,

t4, is pivoted at one end near the center of the block t, to extend along the top of the same, and is bent at its free end over and under the inner edge ot' the block, being provided on its upper side with a stud, t5, entering aslot, n', formed transversely in the free end of the iinger c. At opposite edges of the tongue t4, I provide light platinum tipped contactsprings, t, extending into the plane of the contacts t and t2, there to engage, for the better contact with the latter,with platinumpointed studs, t", projecting laterally therefrom; and the contact-portion of the tongue t4 may for the same purpose, be laterally expanded, as shown at t8. A light spring, u, is secured at one end to a post, u', extending horizontally from the bar Z2 at one side of the switch I; and the spring engages toward its free end with a stud, u2, on the under side of the tongue t4, where it extends underneath the block t, the spring being bent, as shown, to engage and hold the tongue yieldingly at each end of its throw.

K is a metallic chute secured to an end of the bar Z2, and shaped to admit latwise into it through the opening or slot h at its upper end, a coin of the denomination representing the charge for the use of the phonograph. The chute inclines downward from the insertion end 71, to a coin-receptacle, L, On the upper side of the chute K (as shown, about midway between its extremities) is secured a bearing-block, g, which should be formed of metal, and has secured to its forward side an insulated metallic spring, g', with which is connected a binding-post, g2. A metallic lever, j", extends through and is pivot-ally supported in the block g, and projects at its rear end into the path of the stud s2 on the arm s. At its forward end, the lever f is formed into approximately a hook-shape, as shown at f', Fig; 6, and there normally projects through a slot, f2, formed, to admit it, longitudinally through the chute toward its lower end; and on the upper edge of the leverf, below the free end of the spring g', it may be expanded, as shown at f3, to increase the contact-surface with it of the spring g.

To provide for the operation, produced in the manner hereinafter described, I arrange the circuits as diagrammatically represented in Fig. 3. From the positive pole of the battery M the line w leads by way of the binding-post qthrough the motor A', thence to the normally open contact g; and from the chute K, with which the lever f is metallically connected, through the switch I, at its terminal t2, back to the negative pole of the battery. From the positive end of the motor A proceeds a branch-circuit, w', through the electro-magnet.y H to the terminal t of the switch I. Thus the circuit w will be closedy by producing electrical contact between the spring g and lever f; and if the tongue t4, of the switch I, be turned from the post t2 to the post t', that circuit will be shouted through the magnet H,causing it to attract its armature H and thereby permit eventual separation of the contacts g and f', at the same time effecting the release of the stylus F, and permitting the latter to slide, by gravity, back to its initial or starting position, in reaching which, itsY tongue k3 engages with the upright finger 'on the longitudinally movable rod r,andby 'moving the latter with it turns the tongue t4 of theswitch I back to the contact t2.

The operation, in detail, is as follows: The parts, as illustrated, occupy their initial rel-ative positions, whence the stylus` F may be actuated to record the vibrations directed againstA :its diaphragm or to repeat them after having been recorded by it on the cylinder provided for the purpose on the carryingcylinder E. By inserting a suitable coin- (as a nickel five-cent piece) intothe ch nte K through its inlet-slot h, the coin fallsin the chute till .stopped by the hook-end f of the pivotalleverf, extending longitudinally across the interior of the chute; and since the leverf is somewhat widened in vertical cross-section toward its end f', as shown at d, Fig. 6, the thickness of the coin will raise it to bring its contact-portion f3 against the contact g', thereby closing the circuit w, owing to the arrangement of the latter hereinbefore described. Closing of the circuit l1J-obviously sets the motor A in motion, and causes it to turn the screw E and cylinder E in the usual manner of j a phonograph. The revolving screw E, by engagement with it of thearm p2, slides the sleeve p carrying the stylus-device F along and up theinclined guide-rodp, causing the device F .to perform its well- /known function. The finger i2 is adjusted in position near the end of the course (which may be predetermined, by adjustment of either or IOC IIO

both ngers if; and i2) of the stylus-device l?, Whereby,when the latter reaches such linger '52, through engagement therewith of its tongue k3 it slides the rod 'il in the direction of the movement. This, obviously, moves the linger fr in the same direction, and by the engagement with the latter, at its slot o', of the tongue t* of the switch I, the said tongue is turned from the contacts 2 to the contacts t', thereby shuntng the current to the branch-V circuit w and energizing the magnet H. The magnet then attracts its armature H', which,

- in responding, draws with it, through the medium of thelinl; s' onits extension m, the arms, thereby bringing the stud s2 down against the rear end of the lever f and raising it toward its opposite end (thus, momentarily, still farther than it was raised and held by the inserted coin) against the spring g far enough to remove its hook or stop endfrom the path of the coin, which then resumes its passage through the chute K and discharges therefrom into the coin-receptacle L. 'A further, and equally important effect ot' the attraction of the armature H', is to cause the link s', by drawing downward the arm s, which is firmly secured to the rock-shaft k, to turn the latter and with it the sleeve k', (which moves with the shaft or may be integral with it) thereby raising the lip k2 of the sleeve against the tongue k3 of the stylus-device F, and, as a consequence, turning the latter backward and, necessarily, also its supporting-sleeve p and the arm p2, whereby the arm p2 is raised out of engagement with the threads of the screw E, (which not only eiect the movement of the stylus-device, but, besides, are relied upon to hold it wherever it is moved.) IVhen thus released, the sleeve p is free to slide down the inclined guide-rod p and carry with it the arm p2 and the stylus-device F toward their initial positions, in attaining which, the tongue k3 strikes the finger il" in its path, and thus slides the rod t' longitudinally in the direction of the movement, which carries the finger c With it and through the latter returns the tongue t4 of the switchIinto contact with the post t. This breaks the circuit to', and releases the armature Il', which then rises by the Weight of the parts connected with it, and in doing so raises the stud s2 from the rear end of the pivotal lever j", permitting the latter to fall, toward its opposite heavier end, into its normal position, illustrated, and break contact with the spring g', thereby opening the circuit tu; and with the release of the armature, furthermore, obviously, the sleeve 7sv with its tongue l? is rocked with the shaft la forward to their normal positions, permitting the tongue Z13 to follow and thus produce reengagement of the arm p2 with the screw E.

The details of the construction involved in my improvement, and thus minutely described, While they are believed best to answer my purpose, may, obviously, be variously modified without thereby departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not Wish to be understood as limiting my improvement to such details.

On reference to Fig. 2, it will be noticed that the chute K is open throughout a part of its extent along its under side, as shown at c; this iste cause coins of smaller denomination than the prescribed to fallout after insertion, and before reaching the leverf. It Will also be noticed that the tongue k3 secured flexibly to the stylus-device F, is rigid for my purpose, and so rendered by the wedge b, which however may be adapted to be readily inserted and withdrawn.

Although the appended claims refer to the instrument provided with my improvements by the term phonograph, I desire that term to be construed as including any analogous instrument to which they are susceptible of application, as the graphophone. Y

lVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In combination, a phonograph, and an electrical coin-actuated attachment havinga chute, K, and means for intercepting a coin lintroduced into the chute, consisting of a single lever, f, pivotally supported to extend, normally, across the chute-passage, the chute and lever being in a normally open electric circuit containing the phonograph-motor, said circuit being closed by the inserted coin, substantially as described.

2. In combination, a phonograph, and an electrical coin-actu ated attachment, having a chute, K, and means for intercepting a coin introduced into the chute, comprising a single lever, f, having a stop, f', near one end normally obstructing the passage through the chute, the chute and lever being in a normally open electric circuit containing the phonograph-motor, said circuit being closed by the inserted coin, substantially as described.

3. In combination, a phonograph, having an automatically returning gravity-actuated stylus-device, and an electrical coin-actuated attachment, B, having a chute, K, and means for intercepting a coin introduced into the chute, consisting of lever, f, normally obstructing the passage through the chute, the chute and lever being in a normally open electric circuit, containing the phonograph-motor said circuit being closed by the inserted coin, and means, substantially as described, actuated from the stylus-device in advancing to release and permit its return by gravity, substantially as set forth.

e. In combination, a phonograph having an automatically returning gravity-actuated stylus-device, and an electrical coin-actuated attachment, B, having a chute, K, and means for intercepting a coin introduced into the chute, consisting of lever, f, normally obstructing the passage through the chute, the chute and lever being in a normally open electric circuit, containing the phonographmotor said circuit being closed by the insel-ted coin, and means, substantially as described, actuated from the stylus-device, in

advancing, to' release it and permit its return by gravity, and from the said stylus-device in returning, to remove the lever f from obstructing the chute-passage, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In combination, a phonograph, having its guide-rod p', for the stylus device, inclined downward toward the initial position of the said device, and an electrical coin-actuated attachment, B, having a c hute, K, provided with a lever, f, normally obstructing the passage through the chute, the chute and lever being in a normally open electric circuit, w, containing the phonograph-motor and closed by the inserted coin, a brauch, w', of the cifr-y cuit w, containing an electro-magnet, H, provided With an armature, I-I, a switch, I, in the said circuits, operated from the moving stylus-device, and means, substantial/ly as described, controlled from the armaturel and actuated by its attraction with the advancezof the stylus-device, to disengagethe latter and permit its return by gravity and toy remove 6. In combination, a phonograph having its stylus-device F ,providedwith a rigid or prac-` stautially as described. the lever f from obstructing the chute-pas` sage, they whole being `constructed and arl ranged to operate substantially asset forth. f

'ticalliy rigid tongue, k3, and its guiderod p', 'forthe stylusedevice,inclined downward tothe chute, the chute and. lever being ina normally open: electric circuit, w, containing the phonograph-motor and closed by the inserted coin, a branch, w', of the circuit w, containing an electro-magnet, H, provided with an armature, I-I, a. switch, I, inthe saidcircuits, operated bythe tongue of the moving stylusdevice, Va rock-shaft, @having a lip, k2, engaging the tongue k3, and carrying an arm, s,

, linked to the armature, and extended across the plane of the rear end ofthe lever f, and

vfingers, '11 and i2, supported. near opposite ends of thecourse-of thezstylusdevice on a ilongitudinally sliding bearing, i, carrying a 1 linger, o, engaging the switch Ithe Whole being constructed and arra'ngedto operatesub- 5o ELLSWORTH E. FLORA.

In presence of- J. W; DYRENEORTH, M. J. FROST. 

